Game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus comprising a container for game equipment such as playing cards, markers or discs, instruction sheets, marbles or dice, etc., the container lid member including a novel track or raceway for a projectile, such as marble, which is movable into one of a plurality of stalls arranged adjacent to scoreindicating or move-indicating indicia means.

United States Patent [151 3,690,668 Weeks et al. [4 1 Sept. 12, 1972 GAME APPARATUS D53,725 3/1931 Flaherty ..273/ 109 UX [72] Inventors: mes E weeks, Macon; Ray 1 2,601,985 7/1952 Yerkes ..273/ 120 Bustos, Auama both ofGa 326,078 9/1885 Wood ..273/120 1,376,199 4/1921 Gotsche ..273/138 R [73] Asslgneez said Weeks, by said Bustos 1,632,673 6/1927 Paulus et al. ....273/ l 36 D UX 3,143,347 8/1964 Ruderian ..273/145 C X [22] 1969 1,538,889 s/192s Famum ..273/119 R [21] Appl. No.: 876,886 2,035,638 3/1936 Culp ..273/138 R 52 U S C] 273 3 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS {511 ritcr'jll'flii'. 1...ffii3311351933412Z3 511,300 W45 9931mm --213/119 R [58] Field of Search ..273/108, 109, 113, 115, 116, gig 3x332 g' 273/118 R,ll8 A,118 0,119 R,ll9A,119

B 120R 123R 123A 144R 144A 144 114,900 3/1899 Germany ..273/119R R g g g i g Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer 1: 5 g s 1 $25 i gs lig' l :PS Attorney-Diller, Brown, Ramik & I-lolt AB, 135 B, 135 BC, 135 C; 57 T CT A game apparatus comprising a container for game [56] References Cited equipment such as playing cards, markers or discs in- 1 struction sheets, marbles or dice, etc., the container UNITED STATES PATENTS lid member including a novel track or raceway for a r 1 projectile, such as marble, which is movable into one gacsar "2 X of a plurality of stalls arranged adjacent to score-in- 2 0697 1211924 g dicating or move-indicating indicia means. D163,28l 5/1951 Haupenthal ..273/142 R X 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 12, 1972 3,690,668

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQgS JAMES F. wee 6: RAY T. BUSTOS ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 12, 1972 3,690,668

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3 .11

IN VENTORS JAMES F. \UEEKS RAY BUSTDS ATTORNEYS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present game apparatus, while not limited thereto, is adaptable for use with the color-number association game disclosed in application Ser. No.

662,647, filed on Aug. 23, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,150.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to amusement devices for children and adults.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus wherein indicia means are provided on a scoreindi'cating or move-indicating surface and a track or raceway is provided for a projectile which is movable therealong and comesto rest in one of a plurality of receiving stalls located adjacent to scoring or move-indicating indicia means. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide the game apparatus with means for facilitating initial entry of a projectile into the track or raceway by providing a chute for locating. the projectile in position to be thumped and accelerated by a players or participants finger.

A further object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with a plurality of chutes located in spaced relation around the track or raceway so that a plurality of players can use the apparatus without the necessity of rotating the apparatus for each successive operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a completely compact game apparatus wherein the playing surface comprises a portion of a container which provides a receptacle for game equipment, instructions, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container cover member having a recessed portion thereof which is comprised of the track means and score in: dicating surface portions of the game apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of the top surface of the game apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one example of a game card which is usable with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken partly on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the same apparatus in a container-open position.

F IG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. I and illustrates a projectile in finger-thumping position in an entry chute.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a modified top portion of the container and illustrates a plurality of chutes located around the periphery thereof.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section of a modified form of the invention wherein a transparent cover member precludes escape of the projectile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A game apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 10, includes a first container member 11 comprising a score-indicating or move-indicating surface 12 surrounded by an annular track or raceway l4 having a portion thereof merging with a chute 16 which provides for initial entry of a spherical, or marble-like projectile 18 into the track or raceway 14.

Surface 12 is provided with a plurality of projectile receiving stalls 20 which are defined by and separated from each other by a series of tapered ribs 22. Centrally disposed on the surface 12 may be a card-like disc 24 with indicia thereon which, in the example shown, may be comprised of a series of numerals 1 through 6 for dividing the disc 24 into a plurality of separate segments, and each of the segments is sub-divided by an array of colored portions 26 such that the total number of portions 26 is equal to the total number of projectile receiving stalls 20.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, a game card 30 includes a V series of columns 32 and rows 34 which are vnumbercoded and color-coded so as to correspond to the numbered segments and colored portions 26 on the disc 24.

The game is played by providing each player with a game card 30 and a plurality of discs or tokens 36. The invention is useful for playing a series of different games which, for purposes of discussion, can be identified as: (1) Colors and Numbers, (2) Colors, and

(3) Numbers.

When playing Colors and Numbers, a first player places a projectile 18 in chute l6 and lightly thumps it with a finger (FIG. 5) so that projectile 18 is caused to move along the track or raceway 14 until the projectile 18 comes to rest in a stall 20. As is shown in FIG. 1, the projectile 18 has come to rest in a stall which is identified by the numeral 6 adjacent a segment which is identified by the color red. The player then places a disc or token 36 on to the location of the game card 30 which is likewise identified by the numeral 6 and the color red. Each succeeding player follows the same procedure until all have played. Play continues until a winner is determined by being the first to obtain a solid line of tokens 36 down one column in vertical position of the game card 30, or across the board in horizontal position, or across the board in diagonal position.

When playing Colors, play progresses from player to player as described above; however, only colors are scored across the top of the card. The winner is determined by being the first player to complete the game by placing a token 36 upon each of the illustrated colors.

When playing Numbers, play progresses from player to player as described above; however, the winner is determined by being the first player to place a token 36 on each of the different numbers arranged in a column 32.

It is apparent from the above that Colors" and Numbers can be played by as many as six players at one time, each playing on a single game card 30.

If it is desired that only one player operate the projectile 18, it will be apparent that each player must have a separate game card 30, and the respective game cards must have the numerals arranged thereon in different random fashion so as to preclude each player from becoming a winner simultaneously.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the game apparatus is comprised of the first container member 11 and a second container member 50 which are suitably dimensioned for the purpose of interfitting with each other to provide a box-like container for game cards 30, discs or tokens 36, projectiles l8, and other paraphernalia such as instruction sheets, or dice (not shown) which may be of a type disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 662,647 and now US. Pa No. 3,549,150.

As is best shown in FIG. 4 container member 50 is provided with a series of wall panels 52, at least one of the wall panels having a notch 54 formed therein for cooperating with and receiving the concave bottom portion 56 of chute 16.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, the indicia-bearing cardlike disc 24 is provided with an aperture so that the disc 24 can be removably positioned on an upstanding stud 60, and the stud 60 is provided with an indexing finger 62 for properly locating the disc 24 thereon. A second disc 24' is included as additional game equipment so as to adapt the present invention for games other than that disclosed by the preferred embodiment. Discs 24' may have letters or any other symbols rather than being color and number-coded.

As is best shown in FIG. 6, modified top container member 111 is substantially identical to container member 1 1 except that it is provided with a plurality of chutes 116 thereby enabling a plurality of players to use the game apparatus without the necessity of changing their positions around the game apparatus or intermittently rotating the game apparatus so that succeeding players can conveniently take their turn at thumping the projectile 18. It will be apparent that the projectile 18 will not escape through one of the chutes 116 since such chutes are disposed above the playing surface and track in the same manner as chute 16 is disposed above surface 12 and track 14 and spaced therefrom by an upwardly extending annular wall 70, as best shown in FIG. 5.

A modified form of game apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 200, is shown in FIG. 7 as including structure similar to the embodiments previ ously described except for the absence of a chute 16 or chutes 116. The apparatus 200 includes a score-indicating or move-indicating surface 212, substantially dome-shaped similar to the shape of surface 12, centrally located within track 214 which in turn is surrounded by an upwardly extending annular wall 270. A transparent cover member 272 is heat-sealed, or otherwise connected, to end portions 274 of annular wall 270. In this form of the invention, a projectile 218 is encapsulated within the apparatus 200 so that it may be manually operated to cause the projectile 218 to travel around the track 214 and come to rest within projectile receiving means or stalls 220.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, it is to be understood that various changes in structure and use can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising a box-shaped upper cont iner member whose u per surface includes a portron avmg a disc-score-ln icatmg means thereon, projectile receiving means encompassing said portion,

continuous track means surrounding and opening into said projectile receiving means, a horizontally disposed chute means opening into said track means for facilitating initial entry of a projectile into said track means, a box-shaped lower container member removably interfitting with said upper container member for forming a closed container therebetween for storage of game equipment, said lower container member including an upstanding wall panel having notch means therein for receiving and interfitting with said chute means, said disc-score-indicating means being removably mounted on said portion of said upper surface, and said game equipment including at least one other disc-score-indicating means which can be interchanged with the aforementioned removable disc-score-indicating means. 

1. A game apparatus comprising a box-shaped upper container member whose upper surface includes a portion having a discscore-indicating means thereon, projectile receiving means encompassing said portion, continuous track means surrounding and opening into said projectile receiving means, a horizontally disposed chute means opening into said track means for facilitating initial entry of a projectile into said track means, a box-shaped lower container member removably interfitting with said upper container member for forming a closed container therebetween for storage of game equipment, said lower container member including an upstanding wall panel having notch means therein for receiving and interfitting with said chute means, said disc-score-indicating means being removably mounted on said portion of said upper surface, and said game equipment including at least one other disc-score-indicating means which can be interchanged with the aforementioned removable disc-scoreindicating means. 